Electrode for annealing and heating systems



W. HURLBURT.

ELECTRODE FOR ANNEALING AND HEATING SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24,1919.

1,398,192, Patented Nov. 22, 1921 3 SHEETSSHEET I 'w. HURL'BURT.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. HURLBURT.

ELECTRODE FOR ANNEALING AND HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION HLELi EEB. 24, 1919. 1,398, 1 92. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

I 3 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

wllllllm lnvenior UNITED STATES PATENT GFFEQE.

WATSON HUBLBURT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application filed February 24,-, 151

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVA'rsoN Hunnnunr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electrodes for Annealing andHeating systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more nearly to annealing and heating systems, butit may be used wherever an insuiiiciency of contact results in a poortransmission of the current, caused most likely by irregularity of oneor both surfaces over which the current must travel. My methodabsolutely insures that the current shall have equal access to each andevery part of a surface, however irregular, thus I get a uniform andevenly distributed current which of course gives an evenly distributedheat. The method by which I attain this, consists in injecting a layerof a liquid electrolyte between the two surfaces, and confining it atthe sides, this fills all the little irregularities of an unevensurface, and upon its conversion into steam, a greater degree ofresistance is attainer which increases the heating qualities of thecurrent. The idea of a mobile substance like a liquid to get a contacton any kind of a surface where the liquid forms the intermediary in abulk is of course old and well known, but the manner in which I applyand control it is new and novel, and is a valuable adjunct to the art ofannealing and heating, when aroughness of the surface occurs wherecontact is desired.

1 do not wish to be limited to the exact details of constructionherewith shown, as various deviations from that illustrated would notdepart from the spirit of my invention.

The preferred construction as outlined in my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a general elevation ofmechanism embodying my invention, the portion shown in full linesshowing the parts ready for the current to be turned on, that in dottedlines ready for the operation of the press.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 83 of Fig. 1 showing the insulated boltsecuring the electrode to the operating arm.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, parts of the power press being broken away.

the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 278,596.

Big. 5 is an enlarged detail section on line 5 5 of 1 ig. 1 with theirregularities exaggerate l.

Fig. i is an enlarged iew of the electrolyte container, partly brokenaway, showing its contents.

Fig. 7 is a view of the shape after being operated upon, k5 indicatesthe parts having been annealed.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the work. The generalform of the apparatus as shown and illustrated in th drawings where 1 isthe table or support 0 the work, the frame 2, carrying head, 3, plunger,1, bumper piece, a and driving wheel, 4', these constitute the mainparts of the press. The electrode 5 and electrodeG conform to thegeneral outline and lit over the shape to be treated, and have a forwardand backward adjustment, by the hand lever 7 pivoted at S, and pins 9and 10 engaging in slots 11 and 12 formed on extensions i3 and i l ofthe arms 15 and 16. tensions 17 and 18 of arms 15 and 16, carrying bolts19, 19*, 20 and 20 insulated from electrodes 5 and 6, form theconnection between the arms 15 and 16 and electrodes 5 and 6 shown inFig. 1. A standard 21 having a foot 22 and connected to table 1 by bolts23 and 24 forms the su'oport for the electrodes and allied parts. Theupper partof standard 21 is enlarged and slotted out as shown at 25 Fig.1, to allow the passage of arm 15 therethrough. in extension 26 with asimilar adjustment and slot in alinement with 25 is shown at 2. Similarslots to guide arms 16 are formed as shown at 18 and 21 Bolt 20 shown indetail in Fig. 3. has the insulating washers 20 and 20 and incased bythe insulating sleeve 20 also bolts 18, 18, 19, 19, and 2O'- areinsulated in like manner.

To anneal an object as the shape 28, preparatory to bending oroffsetting, it is placer upon the block 29 which rests on table 1 of theoperating pr ss. Spaced a suitable distance from block 29 under and inalinement with 28 is a similar bloc; 30, in thickness as much less than29 as the amount of offset required in the piece under treatment. Laidon top of shape 28 is the block 31 of a sufficient height above 28 sothat the bumper shall clear the electrode 5 wien operated. Spaced fromblock 31 in alinement' with and on top of 28 is the block 32, as muchthicker than 31 as the amount of offset rel-la quired in the piece undertreatment. The electrodes being adjusted and a certain amount ofelectrolyte allowed to flow into the canal 33 and 33 by opening valves3% and 35, and out through the perforations 86 where it fills the spaces37, .37 around and about any irregularities there might exist as at 38exaggerated in Fig. 5. Should the electrodes be prevented from lyingclose against the surface of the shape by any protuberances, steps 39are provided to prevent the escape of the electrolyte sidewiseconsisting of the inner flexible member 40, as asbestos, that willwithstand a high heat, and a metallic retaining piece 41 supporting theflexible member by screws as passing through both pieces into theelectrode. The

V receptacles 4-3 for the electrolyte 4: 5 being raised somewhat abovethe level of the canals and 83 gives a slight pressure to the iuidcausing it to quickly ill the space between the contact surfaces. Valves34; and 35 are closed aftera proper supply has descended, thus when thecurrent heats the parts and steam is generated the added pressure tendsto more thoroughly force the liquid and steam into minute pockets orfissures, through the cutting off of the egress at the sides. Throughpresence of the electrolyte between the surfaces, and full contactestablished by this means I am enabled to get a very evenly distributedcurrent between the two parts, thus a uniform softening follows,enabling me to get a proper bend throughout the desired area.

lVhen the electrolyte has been allowed to fill the space between thesurfaces and the supply valve closed, the current of low voltage andhigh amperage is switched on, heating is at once set up, when the liquidbegins to be transformed into steam, and gathering pressure, a smallamount will issue at the junction of the shape 28 and the flexiblemember l0, but the supply in the canals 33 and 33 should be plentifulfor the time necessary for the part to attain the proper annealing. Atthis juncture the current is turned oif and at once lever 7 is thrown tothe dotted position in Fig. l and the operation of the press nextdeforms the part 28 according to limiting pieces 30 and 32, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2.

Claims 1. In an electrode the combination of a cavity in said electrode,passages connecting said cavity with the contact surface of saidelectrode an electrolyte, a container for said electrolyte and means forcontrolling the supply of said electrolyte.

2. In an electrode the combination of a cavity in said electrode,passages connecting said cavity with the contact surface of saidelectrode, an electrolyte, a container for said electrolyte, means forcontrolling the supply of said electrolyte, and means for confining saidelectrolyte at said contact surface.

3. In an electrode having the contour of a desired shape, a primarypassage in the interior contiguous to and following the general outlineof said contours, smaller passages forming outlets to the primarypassages, an electrolyte, a source of supply for said electrolyte spacedfrom said electrode, and at a higher level than the primary passage, andand means for control consisting of a one way cock.

l. In an electrode the combination of a metal piece to be acted upon, acanal in the s1 'face of contact of the electrodes, a flexible retainer.means for sun )ortin the flexible l D WATSON HURLBURT.

